Aspiration system with positive pressure

Abstract

The aspiration system with positive pressure includes a fluid flow network having a vacuum source at one end and a suction instrument at another end. Suction is regulated by a control valve that can be actuated by a foot pedal. Suction communication between the vacuum source and the suction instrument can be prevented by placing the control valve in the closed position. A positive pressure input device is included in the fluid flow network and is also actuatable by the foot pedal to provide an impulse of positive pressure at the suction instrument. The positive pressure impulse is provided when the aspiration process is being hindered by blockage of the suction inlet end of the suction instrument. A puff of positive pressure is used to expel material from the suction inlet end of the suction instrument. The use of a positive pressure impulse at the suction end of a suction instrument is also applicable to release material transported by the suction instrument from one location to another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aspiration system comprising, a) a valve having an open position and a closed position,   b) fluid flow means including a first fluid flow portion on a first side of said valve communicable with a suction source, and a second fluid flow portion on a second side of said valve communicable with a suction instrument,   c) a positive pressure input means being communicable with said second fluid flow portion for inducing a pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion when said valve is in said closed position,   d) said first and second fluid flow portions being communicable through said valve when said valve is in said open position, said first and second fluid flow portions being non-communicable when said valve is in said closed position,   e) actuating means for actuating movement of said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions and for actuating said positive pressure input means to cause said positive pressure input means to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion, said actuating means being voluntarily actuatable the discretion of an operator to open and close said valve and to cause said positive pressure input means to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion,   f) and wherein said actuating means comprise an actuating member pivotable with respect to said valve from a first limit position, wherein said valve is in said closed position, to a second limit position, wherein said valve is in said open position, and to a predetermined intermediate limit position between said first and second positions, wherein said valve remains in said open position during the course of movement of said actuating member from said second limit position to said intermediate limit position and vice versa,   g) and wherein said actuating member is connected to said positive pressure input means to cause movement of said positive pressure input means to generate said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion, said positive pressure input means having an end of input pulse position, wherein no positive pressure pulse can be generated, said end of input pulse position corresponding to the first limit position of said actuating member, said positive pressure input means being movable from said end of input pulse position to a beginning of input pulse position, wherein a positive pressure pulse can be generated, said beginning of input pulse position corresponding to the second limit position of said actuating member, and   h) wherein said positive pressure input means includes a movable pulsing member, means for connecting said actuating member to said movable pulsing member such that said pulsing member remains motionless in said end of input pulse position while said actuating member moves from said first limit position to said intermediate limit position, said connection means enabling said actuating member to cause movement of said pulsing member from said end of input pulse position to said beginning of input pulse position when said actuating member pivots from said intermediate limit position to said second limit position, reverse movement of said actuating member from said second limit position to said first limit position enabling said pulsing member to move from said beginning of input pulse position to said end of input pulse position to generate said pulse of positive pressure.   
     
     
       2. An aspiration system comprising, a) a valve having an open position and a closed position,   b) fluid flow means including a first fluid flow portion on a first side of said valve communicable with a suction source, and a second fluid flow portion on a second side of said valve communicable with a suction instrument,   c) a positive pressure input means being communicable with said second fluid flow portion for inducing a pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion when said valve is in said closed position,   d) said first and second fluid flow portions being communicable through said valve when said valve is in said open position, said first and second fluid flow portions being non-communicable when said valve is in said closed position,   e) actuating means for actuating movement of said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions and for actuating said positive pressure input means to cause said positive pressure input means to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion, said actuating means being voluntarily actuatable at the discretion of an operator to open and close said valve and to cause said positive pressure input means to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion,   f) and wherein said actuating means comprise an actuating member pivotable with respect to said valve from a first limit position, wherein said valve is in said closed position, to a second limit position, wherein said valve is in said open position, and to a predetermined intermediate limit position between said first and second positions, wherein said valve remains in said open position during the course of movement of said actuating member from said second limit position to said intermediate limit position and vice versa, and   g) wherein said positive pressure input means includes a pulsing member connected to said actuating member by a resilient member, biasing means for biasing said pulsing member in an end of input pulse position when said actuating member is moved from said first limit position to said intermediate limit position, said pulsing member being moved by said actuating member and said resilient member from said end of pulse position to a beginning of input pulse position when said actuating member is moved from said intermediate limit position to said second limit position to overcome the biasing means.   
     
     
       3. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve is in a closed condition when said actuating member is in said first limit position, said valve being biased to move to said open condition when said actuating member moves from said first limit position to said intermediate limit position. 
     
     
       4. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said actuating member is movable with respect to said pulsing member a first predetermined amount in a predetermined direction from the first limit position to the second limit position without causing said pulsing member to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion, and said actuating member is thereafter movable a second predetermined amount in a direction opposite said predetermined direction to cause said pulsing member to induce said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion. 
     
     
       5. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said positive pressure input means includes a movable pressure input member and said actuating means is engagable with said valve to move said valve from said closed position to said open position, and said actuating means is engageable with said pressure input member to move said pressure input member only after said actuating means moves said valve from said closed position to said open position. 
     
     
       6. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said actuating member is connected to said positive pressure input means to cause movement of said pulsing member to generate said pulse of positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion, said pulsing member having an end of input pulse position wherein no positive pressure pulse can be generated, said end of input pulse position corresponding to the first limit position of said actuating member, said pulsing member being movable from said end of input pulse position to a beginning of input pulse position wherein a positive pressure pulse can be generated, said beginning of input pulse position corresponding to the second limit position of said actuating member. 
     
     
       7. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said positive pressure input means is at the second flow portion of said fluid flow means and said positive pressure input means include a fluid flow chamber communicable with said valve when said valve is in said open position, and said pulsing member includes a diaphragm provided at one end of said fluid flow chamber, said diaphragm being movable to expand to the volume of said fluid flow chamber when said actuating member is moved from said first limit position to said second limit position. 
     
     
       8. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said positive pressure input means include biasing means for biasing said diaphragm in a volume decreasing direction that decreases the volume of said fluid flow chamber, said diaphragm being movable in said volume deceasing direction when said actuator member is moved from said second limit position to said first limit position. 
     
     
       9. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said positive pressure input means includes means for connecting said actuating means to said movable pulsing member such that said pulsing member remains motionless in said end of input pulse position while said actuating member moves from said first limit position to said intermediate limit position, said connection means enabling said actuating member to cause movement of said pulsing member from said end of input pulse position to said beginning of input pulse position when said actuating member pivots from said intermediate limit position to said second limit position, reverse movement of said actuating member from said second limit position to said first limit position enabling said pulsing member to move from said beginning of input pulse position to said end of input pulse position to generate said pulse of positive pressure. 
     
     
       10. An aspiration system comprising, a) a valve having an open position and a closed position,   b) fluid flow means including a first fluid flow portion on a first side of said valve and a second fluid flow portion on a second side of said valve, said first and second fluid flow portions being communicable when said valve is in said open position and being non-communicable when said valve is in said closed position,   c) said first fluid flow portion being communicable with a suction source,   d) a suction member connected to said second fluid flow portion and having a suction inlet end, said suction member being communicable with said first fluid flow portion when said valve is in said open position,   e) a positive pressure input means communicable with said second fluid flow portion to permit inducement of positive pressure in said suction member when said valve is in said closed position, and   f) voluntarily actuatable actuating means for actuating movement of said valve from said open position to said closed position, and for actuating said positive pressure input means to induce positive pressure in said second fluid flow portion when said valve is moved to said closed position,   g) and wherein said actuating means comprise a pivotal pedal member pivotable with respect to said valve and normally biased to a first limit position wherein said valve is in said closed position, said pedal member being movable toward a second limit position to permit movement of said valve to said open position, and   h) wherein said positive pressure input means is in the second fluid flow portion of said fluid flow means and said positive pressure input means includes a fluid flow chamber communicable with said valve when said value is in said open position, and a pulsing member is movable in said fluid flow chamber, said pulsing member being connected to said pedal member and including a flexible diaphragm at one end of said fluid flow chamber, said diaphragm being displaceable a predetermined distance to expand the volume of said fluid flow chamber when said pedal member moves from said first limit position to said second limit position, return movement of said pedal member from said second limit position to said first limit position permitting movement of said flexible diaphragm to decrease the volume of said fluid flow chamber and cause an impulse of positive pressure in said fluid flow means directed to said suction member for expulsion at said suction inlet end.   
     
     
       11. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said valve member is biased to move from said closed position to said open position when said pedal member moves from said first limit position to said second limit position. 
     
     
       12. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pedal member has a predetermined intermediate limit position between said first and second limit positions wherein said valve member is in said open position. 
     
     
       13. The aspiration system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said positive pressure input means includes a movable pulsing member having an end of input pulse position corresponding to the first limit position of said pedal member, means for connecting said pedal member to said movable pulsing member such that said pulsing member remains motionless in said end of input pulse position while said pedal member moves from said first limit position to said intermediate limit position, said connection means enabling said pedal member to cause movement of said pulsing member from said end of input pulse position to a beginning of input pulse position when said pedal member pivots from said intermediate limit position to said second limit position, reverse movement of said pedal member from said second limit position to said first limit position enabling said pulsing member to move from said beginning of input pulse position to said end of input pulse position to generate said pulse of positive pressure.